Southern California -- this just in

Suspected robbers barricaded in Inglewood Burlington Coat Factory

Inglewood police surrounded a Burlington Coat Factory on Thursday morning after three suspected armed robbers locked themselves inside with an unknown number of employees.

Employees at the store at 3150 W. Imperial Highway called 911 about 7:10 a.m. when the ski mask-wearing men attempted a robbery, a watch commander at the Inglewood Police Department said.

Some of the employees ran out of the store, but it was not clear how many remained inside. The store doesn't open until 10 a.m., police said, so no customers were inside at the time.

Officers called for a SWAT team and evacuated a nearby CVS Pharmacy, KTLA reported. Negotiations are ongoing.

About 8:30 a.m., police said it appeared the suspected robbers were trying to surrender.

KTLA-TV reported the suspected robbers could not exit the store because they could not unlock the doors and were looking for a key. At one point, video from TV helicopters showed someone trying to kick the door open.